The Daily Reporter articles from May 2009

The Daily Reporter archives from May 2009

Regional transit authorities approved for southeast Wisconsin, Dane County.
May 1, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Southeast Wisconsin and Dane County would be able to raise taxes to pay for transit projects under a Friday morning vote by the state Joint Committee on Finance. But the committee rejected creating a Fox Valley...

Wisconsin bill offers bidding preference to disabled vets.
May 1, 2009... Byline: Dustin Block Preference could come at a price for disabled veterans seeking bidding advantages similar to those given to minority contractors. John Hoeft, junior vice commander for the Disabled American Veterans Department of...

Sewer projects compete for Wisconsin stimulus funds.
May 1, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Rhinelander's $34 million stimulus money request for sewer system projects is on the bubble. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is giving Wisconsin $105.9 million to parse out as grants to sewer and...

Redrawn Washington County boundary may lead to millions in stimulus money.
May 1, 2009... Byline: Dustin Block A redrawn boundary may help Washington County receive millions of dollars in stimulus money to rebuild two highways. County officials reached a deal with the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission last...

Wisconsin contractors anticipate a tougher OSHA.
May 4, 2009... Byline: seanryan Wisconsin builders expect more OSHA safety inspections, more citations and more expensive penalties as the agency shifts its enforcement philosophy. In the last eight years, the Occupational Safety and Health...

RTA plan disappoints Wisconsin transit groups.
May 4, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan The regional transit authority plan that emerged from legislative debate last week ignores Dane County roadwork and threatens the $200 million rail project the proposal was designed to support, according to RTA...

Federal grip on GM plant in Janesville, Wisconsin, chokes opportunities.
May 5, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder There is a roughly 4.8 million-square-foot building on 240 acres in Janesville with relatively new roads and railroad tracks feeding into the property. It is a prime piece of real estate that's attractive to...

Debate flows from La Crosse's Grand River Station project.
May 5, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder La Crosse accepted bids for the Grand River Station project before drawings were complete, and city officials are now prepping for a fight over who will pay for unexpected costs. The project is now out of line with...

Affordable housing in Milwaukee lacks money.
May 5, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee struggles to attract apartment developments for the city's poorest residents because there is not enough grant or loan money to balance project budgets. Affordable-housing projects in the city seldom target...

Commentary: Nature's course proves best track.
May 5, 2009... Byline: Melissa Rigney Baxter Sometimes Mother Nature knows best. Technological advances in concrete and filtration are offering new methods for managing runoff from highways. But rain gardens and ponds remain among the most effective...

Battle between village of DeForest and town of Windsor puts developments on hold.
May 6, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder A property dispute between the village of DeForest and the town of Windsor is testing the patience of developers proposing projects for the area. That element is certainly out there, said Brad Ziegler, president of...

Wisconsin unemployment stalls immigration bill.
May 6, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder The rising tide of unemployment in Wisconsin is drowning out the voices of those who support a bill setting tough penalties for companies that hire illegal immigrants. State Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin...

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee project site raises concerns.
May 7, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Rather than fight what could be a losing battle, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee should explore other location options for its new school, according to one Milwaukee County supervisor. Proponents of parks and...

Down economy pumps up apprenticeships in Wisconsin.
May 7, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan People are lining up for construction apprenticeships, but contractors cannot hire them until there's more work. Unfortunately, a lot of that is out of our control, said Jerry Knapp, business development...

Economy stifles efficiency projects.
May 7, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Energy efficiency is taking a backseat to the basics as building owners pare down their budgets in a bad economy. Those owners are instead improving lighting in their buildings, or they are training tenants or...

Wisconsin's growing budget deficit threatens oil fee.
May 7, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder Opposition to Gov. Jim Doyle's proposed oil franchise fee grows louder as the state's budget deficit grows larger. As far as it goes, most of us have already realized we'll be looking at years' worth of legal fees...

Wisconsin contractors want federal money for water projects.
May 7, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Wisconsin companies are warning Congress should encourage water conservation projects before resource shortages become a nationwide crisis. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency predicts 36 states will have water...

TIF extension sparks Madison debate.
May 7, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder A Madison proposal to give a developer more time to fulfill its promise to sell 124 condos has an alderman wondering if the city's tax-incremental finance policy needs overhauling. There will be ramifications for...

Three companies find reason to grow in Wisconsin.
May 8, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Instead of responding to the construction landscape with caution and cutbacks, three contractors are expanding with new offices and more employees. Waukesha-based Ruekert & Mielke Inc. opened up a new office in...

Building budget generates deficit debate in Wisconsin.
May 8, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder The state's two-year, $1.4 billion building program is at the center of a debate over possible solutions to Wisconsin's ballooning budget deficit. In a sane world, it would be considered, said state Sen. Glenn...

Shared revenue threat leaves Wisconsin cities scrambling.
May 8, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder Several Wisconsin municipalities are reviewing budgets and awaiting word of shared revenue cuts from the state in light of the state's increasing budget deficit. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau on Tuesday is expected...

U of Wisconsin-Milwaukee clings to lakefront water school.
May 8, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is sticking to its favorite, but criticized, plan to build a water research center on the city's lakefront despite a growing list of alternatives. Chancellor Carlos Santiago said...

Congress poised for federal sick leave proposal.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan A Milwaukee business group suing to overturn the city's sick-leave law takes little solace in a pending bill to establish similar federal rules. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce argues Milwaukee's...

Contractor union vote in Wisconsin raises call for federal changes.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Both sides of a dispute over a union vote at Level Five Contracting LLC argue the fight justifies the need to change federal law. Yet both sides want different changes. Operating Engineers Local 139...

Wisconsin captures cash for wind research.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Rick Benedict Wisconsin schools and groups will receive more than $1 million from the federal government to further wind power development and research, but some are skeptical the money will translate into development. ...

Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, 9to5 make final arguments in sick-leave case.
May 11, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan During a Monday afternoon court hearing on Milwaukee's sick-leave law, attorneys for the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce argued the rules would conflict with collective-bargaining agreements. MMAC...

Roadworker battery bill in Wisconsn draws debate.
May 12, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder A bill that would increase penalties for those who beat up road builders is instigating a fight over offering special treatment to specific workers. We've created more and more special classes of protection for...

River Falls personal injury lawsuit lingers long after completion of project.
May 12, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder Attorneys for a contractor and subcontractor found negligent in a personal injury case in River Falls have until Tuesday to request a reversal of a Pierce County jury's verdict. The decision likely will be made this...

Report rekindles argument in Wisconsin over how much state should contract with private engineers.
May 12, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan The longstanding debate over how much work the state should contract to private engineers is resurfacing in the wake of a state audit released Tuesday. The audit (PDF) revealed that on 125 projects, the Wisconsin...

Marathon County picks study of jail alternatives over construction.
May 13, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder Marathon County once again will seek ways to keep people out of jail rather than spending millions of dollars on a building expansion that some call inevitable. You can keep doing these studies again and again, said...

Wind farm bills in Wisconsin survive public lashing.
May 13, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder More than eight hours of public testimony mostly opposed to state guidelines for wind farm placement did little to kill bills that would limit local control of the energy developments. It just underscores the reason...

Wisconsin contractor closes amid union lawsuit.
May 13, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Construction unions are trying to recover more than $197,000 in unpaid benefits from Wauwatosa-based Major Systems Inc. after the company told Sheet Metal Workers' Local 18 it was closed. The contractor sent about 15...

Beloit Housing Authority seeks stimulus.
May 14, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan The Beloit Housing Authority wants stimulus money for a project to renovate 65 apartments, but federal rules will force the agency to miss the first round of applications. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban...

Wisconsin's unemployment bill reflects industry slowdown.
May 14, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder The construction industry prefers jobs over the extended unemployment benefits that are part of a large bill to net the state more federal stimulus money. We're concerned, said Tom Fisher, president and business...

OSHA vows strong presence on stimulus construction projects.
May 14, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan An Occupational Safety and Health Administration promise to intensify enforcement on stimulus construction projects is drawing mixed reactions from contractors. Robert Gonzalez, a board member of the National...

Shingles prices go through the roof.
May 14, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Contractors are waiting for the cost of shingles to go back down so homeowners stop deferring roof-repair projects. It's causing people to put things off, said Cory LeFever, owner of LeFever Roofing LLC, Wales....

Survey says: U of Wisconsin-Milwaukee faculty members oppose campus.
May 15, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will pursue its plan to build an engineering campus in Wauwatosa despite negative feedback from faculty. The university surveyed staff members to get their opinion on the campus...

Wisconsin hospital revival costs demo contractor a job.
May 15, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder A late-inning rally to save Wisconsin Memorial Hospital in Madison left Champion Environmental Services Inc. with a state demolition contract but nothing to tear down. It's a little disappointing, sure, because it's...

Change of heart common in demolition business.
May 15, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder Wisconsin's decision to review a redevelopment project for the Wisconsin Memorial Hospital more than a year after agreeing to demolish the building is just one instance of a common occurrence. This kind of thing...

Capital projects force budget balancing act in Milwaukee.
May 15, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee is trying to figure out how to pay for a $1.35 billion list of capital projects to be completed between 2009 and 2014 without cutting city services. Before you come up with solutions, you have to know what...

Wisconsin budget measure's liability shift spooks industry.
May 15, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder A state budget measure that would redefine liability policies in legal cases is sending a shudder down the spines of business owners and contractors. We saw a lot of our members write in to their legislators about...

Unscheduled inspections prompt Milwaukee response.
May 18, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Unscheduled pre-bid inspections for home renovation projects in Milwaukee prompted the city to demand contractors respect privacy and the law by calling ahead. Milwaukee's Neighborhood Improvement Development Corp....

Bid errors open door for interpretation by Wisconsin state officials.
May 18, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder Contractors are making more mistakes more often on bid documents, prompting state officials to broach the prickly prospect of giving themselves more discretion in awarding projects. I'd say with almost every...

Main campus still in play for University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's engineering building.
May 18, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's main campus has enough room for the development of new engineering buildings, but parking would be a problem. In fact, there is no perfect location for a new College of...

Library choice challenges city of Madison's budget.
May 18, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder A lack of money might force Madison to forsake its preference to accept the most expensive building option for a new Central Library. If we can get our ducks in a row, we can be in a good position to take advantage...

Federal sick-leave bill would grant up to seven days annually.
May 19, 2009... Byline: Rick Benedict Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., on Monday introduced a federal bill that would require workers to receive sick leave. The bill has 101 sponsors, including Wisconsin Democratic representatives Tammy Baldwin and Gwen...

Sheboygan still counting down for spaceport.
May 19, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder Spaceport proponents argue they can spare taxpayers the cost of construction even as attempts to raise private money for a corresponding museum project are stalled on the launchpad. James Testwuide, chairman of the...

Milwaukee commission stalls decision over historic status of Sydney Hih buildings.
May 19, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan A Milwaukee commission's stalled decision over the Sydney Hih buildings' historic status highlights the influence of development plans and money over preservation. Matt Jarosz, chairman of the Milwaukee Historic...

City of Milwaukee losing patience with Gipfel building.
May 19, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan The Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services is running out of patience waiting for a decision on the historic Gipfel Brewery building. The 1853 Gipfel Brewery building has sat on stilts next to the Sydney Hih...

Nuclear power picking up steam in Wisconsin.
May 19, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder A state moratorium on nuclear development is doing nothing to cool debate in Madison over the energy alternative. Despite projections of growing energy needs and Wisconsin's struggles to meet its renewable energy...

Stimulus disappoints Milwaukee builders.
May 19, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee homebuilders want a direct line to stimulus money rather than fighting for a piece of it after the city lends the cash to new homebuyers. The Milwaukee Neighborhood Improvement Development Corp. anticipates...

Error in bidding costs Milwaukee-based LaLonde Contractors state job.
May 20, 2009... Byline: paulsnyder A bidding error by LaLonde Contractors Inc. cost the Milwaukee company a state road construction project and increased the price of the job by more than $800,000. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Tuesday...

Asphalt demand could affect shingle prices.
May 20, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Shingle suppliers are watching closely to see if federal stimulus-backed road projects will drive up prices by making it more difficult to buy asphalt. For our perspective, we expect once the stimulus kicks in, it's...

Unresolved land-sale negotiations between Milwaukee and the Tower Automotive owner cause uncertainty.
May 20, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan Unresolved land-sale negotiations between Milwaukee and the Tower Automotive property owner are scaring away businesses and stymieing site redevelopment. The property could become Milwaukee's inner-city signature...

Wisconsin state trail stalls Madison neighborhood plan.
May 21, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder Local disputes over the Ice Age Trail's route through Madison are slowing work on the Shady Wood neighborhood's development guidelines to a glacier's pace. I don't know where this is headed, said Michael Waidelich,...

Madison expects construction budget cuts.
May 21, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder The state's financial pain will trickle down to Madison's 2010 budget, forcing the cancellation or delay of construction projects. City leaders know cuts are coming but do not know not how deep they will be or how...

Wisconsin towns seek more control over annexation.
May 21, 2009... Byline: Paul Snyder A bill designed to level the playing field when it comes to annexation among towns, villages and cities might also prolong already lengthy waiting periods for development. The longer annexation is delayed, the...

Milwaukee County OKs University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee land sale.
May 21, 2009... Byline: Sean Ryan The Milwaukee County Board on Thursday approved 15-4 the sale of Milwaukee County land in Wauwatosa to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for construction of an engineering campus. The Milwaukee County Board of...